On Oct. 26, 2024, Jeanette Jean Gertz departed this life and entered the presence of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. She left this earth peacefully while at home with her family. 

Jeanette was born on Sept. 16, 1944, in Montezuma, Kansas. She was the youngest of six children, and as early as age 6 showed musical talent. After school, she would head for her folks’ Aztec cafe, and stand by the jukebox and sing along with every song to entertain the customers.

After graduating as valedictorian from her high school, she accepted a full tuition scholarship to BIOLA University In La Mirada, Calif. At BIOLA (Bible Institute of Los Angeles), Jeanette double majored in Bible and English. She graduated summa cum laude, and became a member of the Delta Epsilon Chi Honor Society.

She was also a member of the Biola corral and of the contemporary singers. During her senior year at BIOLA, she met a Talbot theological, Seminary student, Greg Gertz, and the day after her last BIOLA final exam, she married Greg.

She taught fourth grade and middle school for four years in Leona Valley, Calif., before starting a family. Her daughter Genelle was born in 1972 and her son Steven was born in 1975. Jeanette taught an additional four years of high school English in Poway, Calif., during the time that her two children were being put through college.

Jeanette was a wonderful pastor's wife and she played a prominent role in each of the churches she and Greg pastored in NorthCounty, Los Angeles, for 18 years, in San Diego for 14 and then Elk Grove Village, Chicago area, for five years.

In 2006 they retired in Lexington and have enjoyed a wonderful retirement together for over 18 years. Jeanette was a dedicated student of God's word and a faithful woman of believing prayer. Her love for the Lord was seen by her smile, heard through her words, felt through her music and demonstrated through her sufferings.

A memorial service will be conducted at 11 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 23, at Grace Presbyterian Church by Dr. Greg Gertz and the Rev. Justin Clement.  Burial is private.

Arrangements are by Harrison Funeral Home and Crematory.